Ħamrun
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Ħamrun (or Il-Ħamrun) is a town in the Inner Harbour Region of Malta, with a population of 9,513 people (Nov 2005). The villagers are traditionally known as Tas-Sikkina literally meaning "of the knife".
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[edit] History
The earliest historical remains that have been found in Ħamrun date back the Punic period where a number of rock-cut tombs were found.
When Malta was governed by the Knights of St. John, officials, knights and the rich used the area for hunting and picnicking. A hill in the area named Tas-Samra, featured in the Maltese revolt against the French occupation (1798-1800).
During the mid nineteenth century the area started to develop and it was known as St. Joseph's Village (Casale San Giuseppe). To this day, Hamrun's main road is named St. Joseph High Road. In 1875 a new church was opened and it was dedicated to St. Cajetan. In 1881 the area was established as a parish and hence as a separate village. In the 1880s the Malta government decreed that the village be named by its popular name Ħamrun.
During the Second World War people from the harbour area found refuge in Ħamrun and up till the 1970s Ħamrun was one of the largest towns in Malta. It is a commercial centre, particularly renowned for the various furniture shops and shopping centre which extends mostly around St. Joseph High Road.
[edit] Notable residents
The Blessed Dun George Preca although born in Valletta, lived all his life in Ħamrun. He is buried in the Chapel in Ħamrun. It is the home town of former Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici and of Presidents Anton Buttigieg and Guido de Marco. Another notable person from Ħamrun was the actor Oreste Chircop who is remembered mostly for his role in The Vagabond King.
[edit] Churches
Our Lady of Atocja Chapel is the oldest chapel in Ħamrun. It was built in the early 17th century by a merchant trader who brought the painting of the Madonna from Atocha in Spain. The people from Ħamrun refer to it as Tas-Samra.
The Chapel of Porto Salvo was built in 1736 and it was conceived as a village chapel. It is built in the Baroque Style. Today the chapel is used mostly for the adoration of the Holy Eucharist. The local refer to the chapel as Ta' Santu Nuzzo.
St. Cajetan Parish Church was built in the latter half of the 19th century. Originally it was intended to name the church for St. Joseph however Bishop Gaetano Pace Forno wanted to name the church for his patron saint. The church is built in a Neo-Gothic style. Its interior was painted by Emvin Cremona. The statue of St. Cajetan was done by Carlo Darmanin.
St. Francis of Assisi Church was built in the 1950s by the Franciscan Community to cater for the local community.
Immaculate Conception Parish Church was built in the 1960s to cater for the large population of Ħamrun. In architectural terms the church is has a very plain and neat design.
[edit] Sports
Ħamrun is also famous for its football club - Ħamrun Spartans. Another important team is that of the Ħamrun Liberty who play basketball.
[edit] Schools
Ħamrun has the largest concentration of schools in Malta. The oldest schools of Ħamrun are the Government Primary Schools. These schools cater for students from the age of 3 to 11 years. The older primary school dates back to the mid-19th century. The doorways of the school are adorned by busts of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The other primary school was built in the early 1920s.
Maria Regina Girls' Junior Lyceum is a large girl's Junior Lyceum built in the late 1950s.
Dun Guzepp Zammit Brighella Boys' Junior Lyceum traces its origins in the 1590s. The coat of arms of the school still bears part of the coat of arms of the Bishop Garagallo who was Bishop of Malta. Originally the lyceum was found in Valletta. The current building was built in the early 1950s.
Maria Assunta Girls' Secondary School is one of the largest schools in Malta. This school was built in the 1960s with the help of UNESCO.
Adelaide Cini Girls's School was another girls school in Ħamrun. It was closed down just a few years ago. Today the same building houses the temporary location for students who eventually will go to M.A. Vassalli Boys' Junior Lyceum.
Maria Teresa Nuzzo Girls' School was a school which used to cater for the low ability female students aged between 11 and 16 years. This school was located in the same premises of the Primary School built in the 1920s. The student population was around 100. This school was closed down in 2005.
Our Lady Immaculate Girls' School is a church school which cater for from the age of 4 to 16. This school is managed by Franciscan Sisters.
St. Joseph's Girls School is a church school which caters for students from the age of 4 to 16.
[edit] Transport
Ħamrun can boast that several historic transport services used to pass through it. The most notable means of transport that used to pass in Ħamrun was the train or il-vapur ta' l-art. Today the former train station is used as the headquarters for the Ħamrun Scout group which is one of the oldest scout groups in the world. Another transport service which used to pass through the town was that of the Tram.
Ħamrun doesn't have a bus terminus but several buses pass through Ħamrun: 71, 74, 75, 80, 81, 84, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91.
[edit] 1st Hamrun Scout Group
1st Hamrun Scout Group history.
Since 1908 the Scout Movement was introduced in Malta, one can say that the 1st Hamrun Scout Group was one of the pioneers of scouting in this country. However, it was only in 1913 that the Hamrun Group was recognized officially thanks to the diligence and dedication of the founder of the Group, Mr. Edgar Delia and Mr. A.E. Vicari, the first Scoutmaster.
From the beginning, the Group always looked ahead and moved forward, never got disbanded and always followed its motto 'Forward Hamrun'
One can find documents that when Mr. Delia, together with other Maltese scouts participated for the first Scout Rally in Windsor Great Park in 1911, he was given a bugle from Camp Commandant Lt.Col.Minden Cole. This bugle was the inspiration for the formation of the bugle and fife band within this Group.
During the war, the Hamrun Group served the country by helping in doing air-raid demonstrations and doing cost-guard watching around the island. After the war, the Group, like the rest of the country, started to grow again. It grew so much that towards the end of the 1950s it was felt that a new and bigger headquarters was needed. So, the Group Scout Leader of those days, Mr Joe Borg, together with the other leaders of the Group and with the help of Mr. Ernest Micallef, started to look for an alternative place.
It was only in 1968 that the Hamrun Group officially inaugurated the old train station as the new headquarters. In the same year, the Group was honoured by the Coat of Arms of Duke Argyll. From that day onwards, with the permission and approval of the Maltese Scout Association the Group renamed itself as the 1st Hamrun Scout Group Duke of Argyll's Own.
This was a big step forward for the Hamrun Group, especially for its band, that now was honored to wear the Clan Campbell tartan.
Website: [1] WWW.HAMRUNSCOUTS.COM
Email: info@hamrunscouts.com
Webmaster: Karl Psaila Custo
[edit] References
Bliet u Rhula Maltin
[edit] External links
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